Will I love Penmarric?

I read this book as a young woman and remembered parts of it well. Especially the Cornish setting. Reading it again as a not-so-young-woman I can really appreciate Susan Hawatch's writing - and her wisdom. It is a family dramatic family saga, which appears to be somewhat over-dramatic at times, and yet the basic emotions of love, nostalgia, hate, fear, jealousy... are universal. This historical novel is far more than a comforting winter fireside read.

Susan Howatch walked away from her career as a highly successful novelist some years ago, but she’s well worth a read. Penmarric is the name of another Cornish mansion that is the fixed point in a swirling family saga. She took as her template the lives of the Plantagenet King Henry II and his powerful wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, plus their warring sons, with the house Penmarric standing in for the throne they fought over. You don’t need to know medieval history to enjoy the yarn.

Divided into five sections, each is narrated by a different family member. The action… show more.

I adore family sagas. This is a wonderful recreation of the story of the loves and rivalry of the 12th century Plantagenet king Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their sons. The book is set in the late 19th century and follows the Castallack family who live in a vast Gothic mansion, Penmarric, on the North Cornish coast overlooking the sea. You don't need to know your English history to enjoy the novel but if you finish it wanting more, as I did, you will be delighted to know there are two further books following the story of… show more.